Pulsator for milking apparatus



Oct. 26, 1943. R. w. LEMM PULSATOR FOR MILKING APPARATUS Filed June 2,-1939 IN VENTOR W. EA/M. fai/WMM ,6065er BY v ATTORNEY.

Y tering the fine passages.

It is an object of my TAFigi 4 isa 'section on UN'ITED( -STATES `wirENTrULsA'roR FORMILKING'APPARATUS RobertW. Lemm, Grass LakefMich. applicati.time 2, 1939, seriaiNo. 276,943

3 Claims. (Cl. 31-61) l v"inventirlnn' relates `toA pulsators Vformilking apparatus# In a form` of pulsator now quite generally used therearea rectangular metal block, or base, and

`two `pairs of `cylinder blocks 1secured to opposite sides of said'ymetal blockgwith intervening gaskets, and passages 'passinglongitudinally `and transversely inI three directions, into `and,through vsaid `metal block and communicating with the cylinders of saidcylinder blocksthrloughv grooves "formed in the side surfacesand`covered with said"V gaskets, Iand passagesin the cylinder blocks.

These passages operi throughtheupper sur- ,facefiof saidinterrnediateblock and there ,are

valves ,lthat'r are `automatically actuated to slide transverselyonthe'upper surface 'of said intermediate block and cooperate with theopenings "in 4said surface to put the vacuum, or atmospheric pressure,inV communication with the usual rubber infiations of the teat-.cups ofthe milking ap- ,paratus to secure the operation. This conven `tionalAconstruction involves leng and intricate passages of smallcrosssection, that are difficult Cand erpensive. tomake, that are liableto' clog fup, `andthat vare diflicult toclean. Moreover, i "when `suchconstruction is. taken apart for cleaning, it is often difficult for amechanically `unskilled person to get it" together again in opera-7.

Y,tive condition. i

In the conventionalconstruction, the length and`intricacy the passagescauses'dilatory ac- Htion, and often a stoppage ofthe operation of theapparatus by reason of foreign matter eninvention to eliminatefalligfroovesv from` the side surfaces of the block Fig. 1 isfa planview,` partlyrbroken away, of a `pulsator embodying my invention;

` Fig".` Z'i'gan end elevation, partly brokenaway,

looking from the `position'indicated by the line section on the brokensection line thevalve being shown in fullsecthe une 4 4, Fig. 1;

Fig5 is a front elevation.l oi the apparatus shownin Fig.1; l;

Fig. 6...is a view from below ofthe valve shown the drawing, I provide arec- .strgmni andlrrovidef cylinder Meeks 3 and, `@L ,1

V Figrfl is a View from below of the valve shown at the right of Fig. 1.e,

AReferring 110W i0 tangularbaseblock 2 forming the base` of theinattaching them toopposite vertical sides `of the block 2 by` flanges:l: and screws y, as indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 5. Eachcylinderblockis'pro- `vided with a pair of cylinders having theirinner ends openand ,their outer eridsclosed, the cylinder'block 3 having the cylinders3a` and `3b and the cylinder block 4 having" the cylinders 4a andlb. 4.i

In the cylinder block 3 I provide `two ystraight passages 3c and 3d, thepassage 3c opening to -the outer end of the cylinder 3a and to the innersurface of the cylinder,v block `3` at thepoint 3e 'and the passage 3dopening tothe outer end of the cylinder 3b and` to theinner surfaceofthe 4cylinder block 3 at the `point 3f, saidvpas'sage's beingpreferably arranged in such a manner `that theirhorizontal projectionscross each other las lindicated in'Figure l. The cylinderblock 4` isprovided'with passages `llc and 4d entirely similar to the passages 3canddQthepassage 4c 4opening to the outer end of the cylinder 4a and totheinner surface of the ,cylinder block4 at the point 4e and thepassagejd opening to the outer end of the cylinder 4b and to theinnersurface offthe cylinder block 4 atthe point 4f. i

@From the center ofthe lower surface of the base 2, I bore a cavity 5.When the pulsator is in operative position the blo'ck2 is placed ony thecover Vliof the milk receptacle inl such manner as to register with thesuction opening thereof,

not shown,` which is usually provided' insuch covers sothat suction inthe cavity tends to cause a vacuum in the milk receptacle; In the Vbase2there is also provided anaxial" bore 'l extending part way therethroughcommunicating with the cavity 5 and extending therebeyond yfor a purposeto bev hereafter shown,i and opening, at one end of said base. Atube 8is 'screw threadedly `or otherwise secured to thebase 2 whereby toconneet with the bore 'l and the cavity ,5 so'that a vacuum producingapparatus may besecured to the` opposite end of the tube 3 to causevacuum to be produced inthe cavity 5 and in the bore 1.

l In .the base 2, I alsoprovide two vertical passages S and 3a, eachopening in the upper surface of the base and' leading to the bore l,said `passages being at right angles to the said bore (Fig. 4) The saidpassages!! and Sci-are located in the longitudinal centralline of thesaid surface and spacedV a short distance apart inthe right hand endofthe base 2 as shown in Figure 1.`

i The base2 has a diagonal passage I@ opening toward the upper surfacethereof at'a vpoint`lo cated in the front of thepassage 9a` andextending in downward direction toward the end of the basel opposite tothe end to which the tube 8 is connected. The lower end of the passagel0 terminates in a .screw thread opening 10b in said 4base and la metaltube luc is screwed thereinto. i??? .FPCfIYWWPF fcfmectel f' fiysiltaledistance apart manifold, such as the manifold I I, which may be providedwith am7 suitable tubes, such as metal tubes I Ia, and they are adaptedto communicate with the teat-cup iniiations (not'shown).

, The base 2 has an-opening JvI2 .on the upperv surface Lthereof andthis opening isllocated in front of the passage 9 and is spaced from thepassage I .the same distance as passage Quislf spaced from the passage.9a. Extending in downward and forward directionfroin the open;

ing I2 is the sloping passage I2a, :whichlJhas its `-"j upper end at theopening I2 .and-its lower endV at the opening I2b in the front Vface ofthe'base 2, which registers with the opening detoifthe'jr slopingpassage'dc ofthe cylinder block. "Thebase 2 "has 'another 'openingla on`the upper surface vthereof and located A'equidistantly '"froirrthe.axis` of vthefpassage 'Iwith 'the"pa ssage I2, Extendingin downward andrearward *direction from'theopeningIIla'is the sloping'passage i I 0bwhich has its upper :endY at the opening "IDa" and; `its lower `end attheppening' I'c i in` the Y rear face of the base 2,and .which registerswith thef'open'ingjSe of the 'slopingl passage cofthe cylinder block 3.i y

At Y the left handl ,jend'rof Tf the upper surface Aof ikthe base 2, averticalpassage* I3'is' bored a-tfright angles to' thev bore 'I-'inisuch`n fianrier `as to; com- :'rnuriicatewith said bore l, ass'hown in"Figure 4 at/equaljdistanceslaterally 'ofthe opening of "said passage'I3A in/"thev surface jofthejbase `2 and e'quaily spaced inwardlyfromsaid opening vare f "the openingsjll! "and I5. Extending in downward'and 'rearward direction from the vhopening I4 is 'thestraight slopingpassage "I'ltawhichiA has 'its upper end at the opening'l I4' andits'flower end at ving passage 3d ofthe cylinderb'lock" 3; 'Extending indownward andforward "direction 'from' the opening" I5 is the` straight'sloping passage I5a, 'which vhas :its upper end zat the opening` I5 and"tslower en d at the opening v|51) in the frontface ofythe' base"2,jwhich registers 'with the `opening passage 4d "of j the `cylinderblocl4,

"The Vcylinders BajandJ 4a areaxiallyin line and areprovided with'pistons,1'I 6 and4V `I 6a respectively, `which are' joined'togethervv bya rodA `I Sbjat a equal tothatiof' 'the remote. ends "of saidcylinders.The cyliridersb and 4b are f similarly 're1ativ`ely`located and have"pistons I 8a and 13b respectively;"w1iich varesirnilarly united'byarcdIL Y f' For 'operatively and alternately connecting'the'openings' lila an'dIZ with'theatmosphere and with the suction passage9` Whereby'to causefreciproc'ation of the pistons IIP and'I 6a, and; for

alternately' connecting thej passagef'l with "the s ysuction passage;49a Aand" withr the atmosphere,

whereby to causev pulsations of the: teat-cupinlations (not shown) "I'provide "valve'l9,1'the lowerjfacepf vwhichs shown in Figure 7. Thisvvalve' is :adapted Yto, reciprocate laterally upon the "right 'fhand'iportion ofthe aV reciprocating upper surface 'of' the base 2;'being'actuated by 'the rod IIB winch extends thereoverand Vwhich is providedwith downwardly projecting lugs iISa 'shifts from onefextremeposition'to the' other extreme position, and the groove a being adaptedto connect the passage IIJ with the suction passage 9a when the valve isin the position shown in Figure 1 and to uncover said passage 5 Illto'open it tothe atmosphere when'the valve shifts to its other position.

For operatively and alternately connecting the openings I4 and I5 withthe suction passage I3 -andwiththe atmosphere, I provide a valve 2I,`'the' lower Aface of which is shown in Figure 6. This valvelisialsoadapted to reciprocate laterally uponthe left hand portion of the uppersurface of the base'2, being actuated by the rod ISb .whichextendsthereover and which is provided with downwardlyprojecting lugs ISc (Fig.3) ywhich engage 'against the `ends of the valvev 2 I. The valve 2| isprovided with divergent grooves ,221'and 22a inthe' lower surfacethereof,-solo jcatedfthat one of said grooves shall coverthe opening vIt and the 'opening of the passage I3l 'on the surface of the base 2, atone `end ofthe niovem'entofsaid valve, as shown in-Figure `Vl, and theother of said grooves shall vcover'the opening Id and thepopening ofthesaidpassage I3 atthe other-'en'dof the-movement of Asaid valve. "TheValveis alsoprovided with an `aperture "23 located equidistantlyvbetween the 'outer divergent portionsof the grooves soa's torregisterwiththe opening I4 at one'endof'the movement of 'said 'Valveand withthe'opening jI5jj`at rthe other end'of theme-vement ofysaid valve. 'Theoperationof the-,above `described device is'asfollows: y Assume in thefirst place,that the vpartsfare inI thejpositions indicated inFigure '1.Theitube' is connectedto produce avacuurn in the bore'l and cavity` 5,and'thetubes jI Ia. v'of the manifold' i I are connected withltheteatcup inflations of' the milking apparatusin Vthe usual manner.AThe lmanifold I'I l is connected*4 to Ythe boreI through thek pipevIi)c,'the passage'I,

g1oove` '2.a,.'and passage, 9a.

The outer end of the cylinderfla visconnected through the passages 4c,I2a, groove"20,`pas sage Sto the bore'l,"thus 'producing a vacuuminsaidcylinder.` nAl; the Sametime, theiopening "Illa being uncovered,'atmospheric pressure is admitted to' the outer endof the cylindertla,through thel passages Ib and 3c,'whi'ch' drives theA pistons and Iatothe forward position, as shown in said figure', carrying the valve 2lwith themby means cifthe lugs' Ic, ,and bringingthegroove 22 over theopening ofpas'sage I3 and the opening i4, thus4 connecting the"`outerAend of the cylinder 3b lwith v-the vacuum in the .bore .7, through 'thepassages 3d, Illa, opening I4, groove 22 and passage I3. At the sametimethe aperture 23 in the valveZIfreg'isters with the. opening I5,admitting atmosphericjpressure to .the outer end of the cylindero,rthrough the' P21S- 'sa'ges'la audaci, driving the lpistons I8a an d .isbto. the other, endviof theirtstroke ,Thissetion'carriesthe valve I9withthem byumeansof a lug ld, thus uncovering passage I0 andthe openingI2, and admittingiatinospheric .pressure to the teat-cupfinflations:Vthrough theopening I0, pipe Ic, manifold II and pipes Ilaflandalsoadmitting atmospheric :pressure .tothefouter end of the cylinder fia,throughl thebpassages ,IZafand f 4c',- and 1 at vvthe :sametimefconnec'tingV the passage with the opening I 5a through-the'groove20fand putting' the outer'v end" of 'the lcylinder l3a linto.connectionY lwith the vacuumpasage "'I; through f the passages 3c, i I0b; groove- 2`i-Ik andwv passageJA 9.

The above cycle is automatically repeated causing the operation of themilking machine.

It will be observed that all the passages are straight and short, andthat an alternative positioning of the parts will do no harm, as theyare symmetrical.

While I have defined as Well as I could my invention in the followingclaims, it is obvious that alterations including my invention could bemade and I wish my claims to cover such alterations. For instance, thepassages in the base may be crossed instead of the passages in thecylinder blocks.

I claim:

1. A pulsator for milking apparatus comprising, a base having ahorizontal upper surface and two oppositely disposed side surfaces, twocylinder blocks each having two cylinders spaced from each other andbored therein from one vertical side surface, means securing saidcylinder blocks to said oppositely disposed side surfaces with the boredsurfaces adjacent thereto and the cylinders in oppositely disposedpairs, a piston in each cylinder, rods joining together in spaced pairsthe pistons in the oppositely disposed pairs of cylinders, said rodspassing over the horizontal upper surface of the base, a straightpassage passing inclined through each block and opening at one end toone of said cylinders and at the other end through said bored sidesurface, a second straight passage passing inclined through each blockand opening at one end to each other cylinder in the block and at theother end through said bored side surface, a pair of straight passagesin said base opening through the upper surface adjacent one of thepiston rods and extending inclined through the base and opening at theother ends through the side surfaces at positions to register with saidpassages in the blocks leading from the remote pair of cylinders, asecond pair of straight passages in said base opening through the uppersurface adjacent the other one of the piston rods and extending inclinedthrough the base and opening through the side surfaces at positions toregister with the passages in the blocks which lead from the other pairof cylinders, a vacuum passage in said base, apertures extendingupwardly from said passage through the upper surface of said baseadjacent the two piston rods, a valve operatively connected with eachpiston rod and adapted to slide upon the upper surface of said base,each valve having suitable open portions suitably positioned to connectthe vacuum passage and atmosphere alternately to selected ones of thepairs of cylinders so that each pair of pistons controls the connectionof vacuum to the other pair of pistons and the pistons reciprocate aslong as the vacuum passage is connected to a suitable source, a teat cupconnection in said base opening through the upper surface adjacent oneof the piston rods, and connection means controlled by the adjacentvalve for connecting vacuum to said teat cup connection each time thevalve is moved to one extreme position by the piston rod.

2. A pulsator for milking apparatus comprising, a base having ahorizonta1 upper surface and two oppositely disposed vertical sidesurfaces, two cylinder blocks each having two cylinders spaced from eachother and bored therein from one vertical side surface, means securingsaid cylinder blocks to said oppositely disposed side surfaces with thebored surfaces adjacentthereto and the cylinders in oppositely disposedpairs, a piston in each cylinder, piston rods joining together in spacedpairs the pistons in the oppositely disposed pairs of cylinders, saidrods passing over the horizontal upper surface of the base, a straightpassage passing inclined through each block and opening at one end toone of said cylinders and at `the other end through said bored sidesurface, a second straight passage passing inclined through each blockand opening at one end to each other cylinder in the block and at theother end through said bored side surface, said passages crossing eachother, a pair of straight passages in said base opening through theupper surface adjacent one of the piston rods and extending inclinedthrough the base and opening at the other ends through the side surfacesat positions to register with said passages in the blocks leading fromthe remote pair of cylinders, a second pair of straight pasages in saidbase opening through the upper surface adjacent the other one of thepiston rods and extending inclined through the base and opening throughthe side surfaces at positions to register with the passages in theblocks which lead from the other pair of cylinders, a vacuum passagecentrally disposed in said base, apertures extending upwardly from saidpassage through the upper surface of said base adjacent the two pistonrods, a valve operatively connected with each piston rod and adapted toslide upon the upper surface of said base, each valve having suitableopen portions and being suitably positioned to connect the Vacuumpassage and atmosphere alternately to selected ones of the pairs ofcylinders so that each pair of pistons controls the connection of vacuumto the other pair of pistons and the pistons reciprocate as long as theVacuum passage is connected to -a suitable source, a teat cup connectionin said base opening through the upper surface adjacent one of thepiston rods, and connection means controlled by the adjacent valve forconnecting Vacuum to said teat cup connection each time the valve ismoved to one extreme position by the piston rod.

3. In a pulsator for milking apparatus of the type having a centralblock with associated cylinder blocks upon opposite sides thereof havingtheir faces in abutted relation, a pair of cylinder bores in eachcylinder block aligned with corresponding bores of the other,interconnecting pistons in said aligned bores, and valve plates actuatedby the pistons: ports defined in one face of said central block andregulated by said valve plates, ports defined in the walls of the boresin said cylinder blocks, and straight passages extending from said portsdefined in said central and cylinder blocks and terminating in alignedports in the abutting faces of said central and cylinder blocks, adiiferent pair of said straight passages defined in said central blockcommunieating with a pair of said straight passages in each of saidcylinder blocks, said intercommunicating passages of both of saidcentral and said cylinder blocks extending through said abutting facesat acute angles.

ROBERT W. LEMM.

